Behind the Uniform
Washington, DC –On April 10, 2025, the National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM) was honored to take part in the official opening of “Behind the Uniform”, an exhibition featuring artwork by 124 U.S. Veterans, service members, family and caregivers. “Behind the Uniform” shares the stories of those who have made the choice to serve and wear this Nation’s uniform. Nineteen works from the NVAM permanent collection are on display.
Photos courtesy: Shawn M. Pridgen
The works of art represent and overlap three categories of artistic identity: those who are practicing artists, an evolving and thriving community of local and national artists, and those who use art as their therapeutic process. The exhibition intentionally presents the artists on equal footing, making no distinction between the artists’ levels of training or experience, presenting a counterpoint to the complex hierarchy that military uniforms express.
This exhibition is the second of three exhibitions in 2025 funded by the CAH Art Exhibition Grant program and is curated by Kasse Andrews-Weller and Moira McGuire.
The opening reception included special welcome remarks from CAH Executive Director Aaron Myers, Executive Director Giselle Futrell of the National Veterans Arts Museum, as well as Director Charlette K. Woodard of the DC Mayor’s Office of Veteran Affairs (MOVA) among others.
Following the remarks, a special presentation was made by Capitol Hill resident Anne Crouch on behalf of the Quilts of Valor organization. The featured exhibition quilt will be part of the permanent collection at the National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago following the closing of the Behind the Uniform exhibition in late May.
Many thanks to Cooks for Vets, 8th and I Young Marines, and the Old City Market and Oven for their generous assistance and for providing the delicious refreshments enjoyed by attendees.
This exhibition is now available for public viewing until May 23rd, and we encourage our followers to visit behindtheuniform2025.com for a virtual tour of the art on display.